“Very clever, boyo!” snarled Salix. “But your treenage tricks ain’t gonna stop me sticking this in your chest!” He came at Ark slow and steady, eyes roving around the floor to check for any more hidden hindrances.

From the hole in the floor, Alnus whimpered like a child, “Help us get out of here, Salix!”

“Sorry, mate. Got some killing to do! We’re running out of time!” Salix fixed his eyes on the impudent boy.

Ark stood his ground. “I’ve had enough of you chasing me, threatening my mother. Worst of all, you took my sister! That is unforgivable. In the Ravenwood, they would have killed you. But Warden Goodwoody pleaded for your miserable little lives.”

The King wondered what on wood the boy was going on about. The Ravenwood? That was the stuff of far tales, surely?

Salix felt his confidence returning. One more step and his knife would cut short the boy’s confidence. “If I’d had the order, I’d have happily garotted the little screaming brat. Time to take you on a journey to the River Sticks!”

His weapon hand reached out and —

A girl appeared from behind a curtain. She was taller than everyone in the room and as bald as a raven’s egg. “Moi turn now!” she said. “Yippee! Our stupid friend be standin’ in the roight place. Do it, boys!”

Before Salix could even wonder who the strange girl was, before he could plunge his blade into the boy’s body, he felt an intense pain shoot through his right foot.

The King could only marvel at the engineering involved. Through twelve small holes in the floor, a circle of long heartwood staves plunged upward, creating an instant circular cage, surrounding every part of Salix. Except for a limb that unfortunately stood in the way.

“Arrghhhhhh!” he screamed, watching in disbelief as the sharpened pole shot up, right through the middle of his foot. “I’m in agony!”

“Then you shouldn’t have put your foot in it, in the first place!” countered Ark.

“Oi be shocked!” joined in Flo. “Be that another joke from the most serious Master Malikum?”

“I think it was!” said Ark. Maybe Corwenna was right. Humor could achieve victory after all. Mucum had been onto something from the go. Ark felt giddy with joy. They’d done it!

By now, a pool of blood had spread around Salix’s legs. The strong man crumbled. “I’m gonna die!” he wailed.

“Stop whining!” said Ark. “It’s a scratch. I’m sure the King will want you to live long enough to face justice. After that, I wouldn’t fancy your chances!” He suddenly looked up at the alcove. “Let him go.”

The King was freed, the gag pulled from his mouth. The bodyguards gently guided him down the twisting stairs, helping him as he stumbled.